TU5.9 Do Surgical In-patients prefer to use first names or titles when greeting and being greeted by Surgical Doctors?

Abstract

Abstract Aims Using first names between staff and patients could potentially help in reducing medical paternalism and encourage a shift to an equal partnership relationship. A survey was performed to determine surgical patients preference for greeting and being greeted by Surgical Doctors. Methods 100 surveys were distributed around three surgical wards over two time periods and collected anonymously. Results 67 surveys were returned and analysed, 21 males, 45 females, 1 unspecified with age range 20 to >80 years. The majority of surgical in-patients prefer junior (85%) and senior doctors (87%) to greet them by their first names. Yet only 27% wished to greet Senior surgical doctors by their first name, compared to 57% for Juniors. In contrast 51% preferred to address seniors by title, but only 22% for juniors. Remaining patients preferred to address doctors by their full name or role only. 50% surveyed believed first names could improve patient-doctor relationships, making it easier to raise concerns but 12% felt tradition restricted them, with 27% believing it would devalue the medical profession. Conclusions Majority of surgical in-patients prefer to be addressed by their first name. However, many are reluctant to address Senior surgical doctors by their first name and are more comfortable doing so for juniors. Although half realise it could improve doctor-patient relationships and ease voicing concerns, some recognise that they are curtailed from doing so by tradition. The shift to equal partnership doctor-patient relationship may be curtailed by the persistence of power differential that occurs through using titles.